Browsing at a bookstore but never buying. wrong? - Page 3

Megan · 01-25-2008, 11:40 AM

I have to admit, when I see someone sitting in a bookstore and just reading away, I find it irritating. I don't know that I can explain exactly why though. I do hate picking up a book that I want to buy only to find that it's damaged from someone sitting and reading the whole thing. I don't mind when people skim a book, or even read the first chapter to see if it interests them. But it really bugs me when I have to step over someone in a store because they're sitting on the floor reading a book. If that's what you want, hit up a library.

And I would absolutely never do it in a small Mom and Pop bookstore. Those stores really rely on their customers buying, not just browsing.

kav122 · 01-25-2008, 05:11 PM

I don't think that I have been to a regular bookstore in a long time. I go to the library or half-price books, so all of the books are used anyway. I don't think that I have ever read all or even most of the book in there though, but I wouldn't be annoyed by someone who did.

Scudley · 01-26-2008, 12:38 AM

I found the internet a great place to buy books from, you get a synopsis, reviews, forums, plus the variety is unbeatable. Also i think it may work out to be cheaper- def if you buy a few books.

Tightwad · 01-27-2008, 07:40 PM

I have a big issue with people who go into ANY bookstore and treat it like their own personal library. Browsing and looking through books is great. You can discover new authors and interests. But, when you plant yourself in a chair and read an entire book or smear your fingerprints all over a magazine you put back on the shelf, you are doing a major disservice not only to the owners but other customers as well. As a bibliophile, it makes me sick to browse down a row of brand new paperbacks and see broken spines and other damage caused by people who treat these books as their own property and then put them back on the shelf.

What would happen to a person who stood in the middle of the grocery store eating from a bag of potato chips they did not buy and had not intention of buying and then put the empty bag back on the shelf? They would definitely get kicked out of the store and very well could be arrested for theft. Big chain stores that encourage reading and snacking are making up for damaged inventory with their $5 lattes. The bad customer behaviour they cultivate trickles down to smaller shops. Just because you can sit and read a book in a comfortable chair and cover pages with your sticky muffin fingers and drip mochachino on the cover doesn't mean you should.

iceclone · 01-27-2008, 08:35 PM

I feel so guilty. I do this when I'm going to B&N or Borders. I go find something and read in a quiet place. Sometimes I buy coffee, sometimes I don't.

I love books so much that I have spent a lot last year on books alone. I found out that most books found in B&N and Borders are more expensive compared to Amazon... even if you're using the membership discount with them. And since I love buying books, I joined the Amazon Prime so I can take of the advantage of lower rates and free 2-day shipping. So anyway, to get to my point... I do get some titles that I like when I browse books in the stores... then I look them up online and buy them there instead.

Livingalmostlarge · 01-27-2008, 08:43 PM

Someone suggested it's like trying on clothes. Do you buy every piece of clothing you try on?

FruWiki Meg · 02-01-2009, 11:12 AM

The only time I've really hogged a book or stack of books in a bookstore was when I was deciding whether to buy a book or not. I like what Livingalmostlarge said, "Do you buy every piece of clothing you try on?" I used to spend hours at the bookstores here, but it got expensive because I did end up buying a lot of the books.

Nowadays, though, I rarely buy books. I've gotten so spoiled by the library, especially since I can look up books online and have them held for me at our local branch. Sometimes I'll buy a book after reading it at the library, but rarely. And sometimes I buy a book on Amazon if it's not available at the library and don't want to wait for them to get it -- though I read lots of reviews, first.

tryingtobefrugal · 02-01-2009, 12:43 PM

I think damaging a book in reading it is wrong.

However, the bookstores want people to feel perfectly comfortable coming in and browsing and reading. They encourage that and ultimately it sells them more books. It is within their power to enforce that you not do this, yet they choose not to, which in my mind means its not wrong.

01-25-2008, 11:40 AM	#21
Megan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 320 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (64)	I have to admit, when I see someone sitting in a bookstore and just reading away, I find it irritating. I don't know that I can explain exactly why though. I do hate picking up a book that I want to buy only to find that it's damaged from someone sitting and reading the whole thing. I don't mind when people skim a book, or even read the first chapter to see if it interests them. But it really bugs me when I have to step over someone in a store because they're sitting on the floor reading a book. If that's what you want, hit up a library. And I would absolutely never do it in a small Mom and Pop bookstore. Those stores really rely on their customers buying, not just browsing. __________________ Counting My Pennies

01-27-2008, 07:40 PM	#24
Tightwad Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (16)	I have a big issue with people who go into ANY bookstore and treat it like their own personal library. Browsing and looking through books is great. You can discover new authors and interests. But, when you plant yourself in a chair and read an entire book or smear your fingerprints all over a magazine you put back on the shelf, you are doing a major disservice not only to the owners but other customers as well. As a bibliophile, it makes me sick to browse down a row of brand new paperbacks and see broken spines and other damage caused by people who treat these books as their own property and then put them back on the shelf. What would happen to a person who stood in the middle of the grocery store eating from a bag of potato chips they did not buy and had not intention of buying and then put the empty bag back on the shelf? They would definitely get kicked out of the store and very well could be arrested for theft. Big chain stores that encourage reading and snacking are making up for damaged inventory with their $5 lattes. The bad customer behaviour they cultivate trickles down to smaller shops. Just because you can sit and read a book in a comfortable chair and cover pages with your sticky muffin fingers and drip mochachino on the cover doesn't mean you should. __________________ '16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt...'

01-27-2008, 08:43 PM	#26
Livingalmostlarge Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Someone suggested it's like trying on clothes. Do you buy every piece of clothing you try on? __________________ LivingAlmostLarge Blog

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-25-2008, 05:11 PM	#22
kav122 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 526 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (243)	I don't think that I have been to a regular bookstore in a long time. I go to the library or half-price books, so all of the books are used anyway. I don't think that I have ever read all or even most of the book in there though, but I wouldn't be annoyed by someone who did.

01-26-2008, 12:38 AM	#23
Scudley Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (9)	I found the internet a great place to buy books from, you get a synopsis, reviews, forums, plus the variety is unbeatable. Also i think it may work out to be cheaper- def if you buy a few books.

01-27-2008, 08:35 PM	#25
iceclone Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I feel so guilty. I do this when I'm going to B&N or Borders. I go find something and read in a quiet place. Sometimes I buy coffee, sometimes I don't. I love books so much that I have spent a lot last year on books alone. I found out that most books found in B&N and Borders are more expensive compared to Amazon... even if you're using the membership discount with them. And since I love buying books, I joined the Amazon Prime so I can take of the advantage of lower rates and free 2-day shipping. So anyway, to get to my point... I do get some titles that I like when I browse books in the stores... then I look them up online and buy them there instead.

02-01-2009, 11:12 AM	#27
FruWiki Meg Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 64 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (11)	The only time I've really hogged a book or stack of books in a bookstore was when I was deciding whether to buy a book or not. I like what Livingalmostlarge said, "Do you buy every piece of clothing you try on?" I used to spend hours at the bookstores here, but it got expensive because I did end up buying a lot of the books. Nowadays, though, I rarely buy books. I've gotten so spoiled by the library, especially since I can look up books online and have them held for me at our local branch. Sometimes I'll buy a book after reading it at the library, but rarely. And sometimes I buy a book on Amazon if it's not available at the library and don't want to wait for them to get it -- though I read lots of reviews, first.

02-01-2009, 12:43 PM	#28
tryingtobefrugal Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I think damaging a book in reading it is wrong. However, the bookstores want people to feel perfectly comfortable coming in and browsing and reading. They encourage that and ultimately it sells them more books. It is within their power to enforce that you not do this, yet they choose not to, which in my mind means its not wrong.